Best of Argentina and Brazil: A once in a lifetime journey

• Meals: None
• Transfer airport – hotel
• Mini Tour Palermo (2h)

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, transfer from the airport to the hotel.

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and the center of the political, economic and intellectual life of the country. Buenos Aires has a strong European influence which is reflected by its refined taste in cooking, its luxury boutiques and in the elegance of its inhabitants. Despite modern constructions and dynamic activity, it has managed to preserve old traditions and charming corners.

The cosmopolitan atmosphere and the individual personality of each of its neighborhoods fascinate its visitors. Almost 13 million people live there and can enjoy the plentiful nightlife. During the day, a wide variety of attractions are offered: museums, art galleries, antique stores, large green areas and parks, renowned sporting events and golf courses. This is the birth place of tango music, which is included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In the afternoon, you will visit the district of Palermo with its beautiful parks and artificial lakes. The City Zoo, the Botanical Garden of Buenos Aires, the Argentinian Horse Track and the National Polo Fields are all located in this area.

You will also visit one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires: Palermo Soho & Palermo Hollywood.

This area has many design boutiques, owned by local young designers, informal and modern style as well as many fashionable cafes and restaurants.

The evening is at leisure with optional tours you can choose from.

Optional: Argentina culinary experience (3h 30min) - On shared basis

This Tour is designed to give you an introduction to the best of Argentine cuisine and culture. This is not a cooking class, but a fun and unique experience, where you will meet and dine with people from all over the world.

The International team of guides are on hand to spoil you and take you through every step of this culinary journey:

Each guest will be given a welcoming drink. At first you will try Patagonian trout tartar served with Torrontes wine. Choose from the gourmet fillings and create your own Empanada learning the traditional ‘Repulgue’ technique for Beef as well as Cheese and ham fillings. Enjoy a typical Argentinian Picada with grilled Provoleta Cheese, Sliced Chorizo Sausage, Mollejas (Gizzard) and our homemade Chimichurri.

Learn the most important Argentinian gestures during a short class. Enjoy what many are claiming to be the very best steak in Argentina, cooked to order and accompanied with velvety mash potatoes and a variety of roasted vegetables marinated with vinaigrette of rosemary. These top of the line thick cut filet steaks have a unique 24 hour preparation method that sets apart from the rest. Vegetarian, Pescetarian and Celiac options are available on request.

Two distinct Malbec wines, from boutique wineries in Mendoza, paired to complement food. Learn about and enjoy unlimited wine throughout the dinner. White wine is also available on request.

Enjoy a Cuartirolo Cheese tasting with Dulce De Batata (produced of sweet potato) and dulce de madera (Argentina is the only country in the world where a special kind of wood can be eaten). For desert make your own Alfajores, Argentina’s National Sweet, where Biscuits, Dulce De Leche, Melted Chocolate Fondue and Coconut shavings combine to delight the senses. 

Finally, get taught about the history and etiquette of Mate, Argentina’s national pastime, and prepare it from scratch among yourselves.

A fun and dynamic way to approach Argentina cuisine and Argentinean habits while meeting other international travelers!

**Remark: The tour is shared with international travelers. The transfers take place on private basis with Spanish speaking driver. Time: 07:30 pm – 11:00 pm. Not available on Sundays.

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Loi Suites Esmeralda 3* or Similar (studio)

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Grand Brizo Buenos Aires 4* or Similar (comfort room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast, Dinner
• Buenos Aires City Tour including stop at historical Café Tortoni (5h)
• Dinner & Tango show at La Ventana Tango House (5h) - On shared basis

Get in touch with the birth city of the Tango!

During your city tour in Buenos Aires you will drive along 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest avenue of the world, you will pass close to the Colon Theatre, one of the world's best known opera houses and the cultural pride of the "Bonaerenses".

Visit the famous Avenida de Mayo that runs into the Plaza De Mayo, surrounded by the Casa Rosada (Government House), the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cabildo (first City Hall, built during Spanish rule). At the other end of Avenida de Mayo the cupola of the Congress building can be seen.

Stop and inside visit of the Metropolitan Cathedral, this imposing neo-classical building is Argentina´s main catholic building. The mausoleum of General San Martin (our National Hero) is located inside the Cathedral, and Pope Francisco used to celebrate religious services in this Cathedral when he was cardinal of Buenos Aires city.

We will stop at the famous Café Tortoni, the oldest literati café of the city. Enjoy a cup of coffee & snack.
Your next stop is La Boca, a most colorful area with the famous street Caminito.

Continue to the north area and visit the Recoleta area, one of the city’s most glamorous spots. Here you will see elegant boutiques and excellent restaurants, surrounded by centennial trees.

The heart of the neighborhood is the Recoleta cemetery. The cemetery is the center of this Aristocratic neighborhood, and the most relevant personalities of Argentina’s history rest in this place. The Mausoleums and Pantheons reflect the Architectural diversity emerging from the different cultural tendencies Argentina incorporated in its formation as a nation. The cemetery is considered to be one of the most impressive monuments of Argentina. A 30-minute stop includes a visit to Eva Duarte`s grave, known as Eva Perón (Evita).

In the evening you will be taken to the tango house La Ventana, because visiting a Tango Show is a MUST when you are in Buenos Aires! La Ventana is one of the most authentic tango houses and is located in the San Telmo neighborhood, the heart of the tango scene in Buenos Aires. 

The Tango tradition started at the end of the last century, developing from a mixture of various rhythms, which were originally danced in the poorer quarters. In the beginning Tango was only danced by men, accompanied by flutes, violins and guitars. The flutes were later replaced by the "Bandoneón" (a type of accordion), which gave the tango its distinctive flavor. 

During the excursion you can opt between a tango lesson with specialized teachers or a wine tasting session of different Argentinean wines.

Afterwards you will enjoy dinner (which includes three courses and non-alcoholic beverages as well as half a bottle of wine or two glasses of beer per person) and a tango show. 

After the tango show, return back to the hotel. Arrival at the hotel around midnight

**Remarks: The excursion is shared with international travelers. The transfers Hotel-tango house and vv. take place with other international travelers from different hotels and Spanish-speaking driver. The tango lesson/wine tasting session is bilingual (Spanish/English) 

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Loi Suites Esmeralda 3* or Similar (studio)

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Grand Brizo Buenos Aires 4* or Similar (comfort room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast
• Day at leisure

Day at leisure – you can choose from the following:

Optional: Tour to the Tigre and Delta of the Parana River (4h) - On shared basis

The Tigre Delta with its rivers, streams and numerous green islands is a very attractive area. The continuous sediment of the Paraná River, which gives the river their particular brownish-red color, forms the Delta islands.

You will drive through the outskirts of Buenos Aires to the aristocratic northern district of San Isidro in order to get to Tigre. Tigre is a charming town with a considerable number of summer residences, yachting and rowing clubs, which represent the weekend activities of many "Porteños" (inhabitants of Buenos Aires). You will enjoy a 1h-boat-excursion on the channels of the Tigre-Delta to see some of the hundreds of islands covered with exuberant vegetation.

**Remark: The transfers and the boat navigation are on shared basis with international travelers.

This tour will finalize with drop off at one of the locations below, not at the hotel (guests can choose & coordinate with tour guide best drop off point according to their convenience)

Drop Off points:

-Puerto Madero area / Woman`s Bridge

-Galerias Pacifico – mall in the corner of Avenue Cordoba & Florida

-Avenue Santa Fé & 9 de Julio

-Juncal & Cerrito

-Obelisco

-Colon Theatre

-Irigoyen & Lima Street

Optional: A day at the countryside visiting estancia Santa Susana (7h) - On shared basis

Enjoy a complete day in the pampa! Carriages and horse rides will show you the charm of Argentinian countryside, its scenarios and the incomparable wild aroma.

Barbecue will be served with variety of salads and local dessert. After lunch, the folklore show will begin with its music and dances.

The day will end enjoying typical Estancia´s activities: regional games as “Carrera de sortijas”, where two teams gallop at full tilt under a wooden arch and try to pass a pin through a small ring hanging from the arch.

After the local games demonstration, transfer back to the city.

**Remark: Excursion and transfers shared with other international travelers.

This tour will finalize with drop off at certain drop off locations, not at the hotel. List of drop off points are mentioned above.

Optional: San Telmo Antique Fair tour (3h 30min)

San Telmo is the best kept historical neighborhood and oldest district of Buenos Aires.

The San Telmo Antique Fair is one of the most relevant attractions that the city of Buenos Aires has to offer. Every Sunday, Plaza Dorrego looks different when it hosts over 270 stands that offer their unique antiques for sale. Gramophones, gramophone records, antique clothes, jewels, trinkets, postcards, calendars, books, iron-fittings, lamps, and an endless number of ornaments may be found in this traditional fair, organized by the Museum of the City, which has developed an internationally acknowledged identity.

The bars nearby take their tables out onto the sidewalk and the whole adjoining area is full of musicians, singers, tango dancers, mimes; on Sundays San Telmo is an authentic Argentinean feast.

Here you will have time to stroll around Plaza Dorrego, you will see some wonderful open-air shows, hear some veteran tango singers, buy something original at the flea market and get an idea of what Buenos Aires and their culture is really about.

**Remark: Market is only available on Sundays.

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Loi Suites Esmeralda 3* or Similar (studio)

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Grand Brizo Buenos Aires 4* or Similar (comfort room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast
• Transfer hotel – domestic airport Buenos Aires
• Flight Buenos Aires – Iguazu (not included)
• Visit Argentinean side of the falls
• Transfer to hotel

Transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to Iguazu. 

The Major landmark of Iguazu is undoubtedly the magnificent Iguazu Falls, the world's largest, formed by the Iguazu River which rises in Curitiba on the East and winds westward along 1,320km through Parana State. Fifteen Kilometers before joining the Parana River, the Iguazu overcomes an abrupt uneven ground and then, amidst an exuberant forest, hurls itself into 275 falls that cascade over a u-shaped precipice 2,700 meters wide, from an average height of 60 meters.

At the other side Brazil displays 800 meter long falls. From both sides the view is superb, at any time of the year. The Falls have been declared by UNESCO Humankind Patrimony.
Upon arrival in Iguazu, pick-up at the Airport and transfer to the Argentinean National Park towards the Argentinean side of the falls.

You will make a short stop at the Visitor’s Center and proceed from there along the Inferior Circuit, the down-river falls, to the Superior Circuit, the up-river cascades. The Ecological Jungle Train leads you to the most impressive observation point of the falls – The Devil´s Throat. After visit transfer to the hotel on the Brazilian side of the falls.

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Recanto Cataratas 4* or Similar (standard room)

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Wish Resort Golf Convention 4-5* or Similar (superior room)

or Overnight at Hotel Belmond Das Cataratas 5* or Similar (superior room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast
• Visit the Brazilian falls

In the morning visit of the Brazilian side of the falls. Walking along the paths following cascades and then along the catwalk that leads very close to the bottom of the Devil’s Throat to enjoy magnificent views.

Take an elevator to go up to the road in order to board the coach which will bring back to the hotel.

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Recanto Cataratas 4* or Similar (standard room)

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Wish Resort Golf Convention 4-5* or Similar (superior room)

or Overnight at Hotel Belmond Das Cataratas 5* or Similar (superior room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast
• Transfer hotel – airport
• Flight Iguazu – Rio de Janeiro (not included)
• Transfer airport – hotel

Transfer from the hotel to the airport for the flight to Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro founded in 1556, the city of St. Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Colony of Brazil in 1776. In 1808 the Portuguese royal family fled Napoleon and settled in Rio. This brought a surge of progress and the city became the main cultural, political and economic centre of the Portuguese empire. In 1889, when the republic was proclaimed, Rio was confirmed as the country's capital, which it remained until 1960, when the construction of the new capital, Brasilia, was founded.

Rio is situated in a 15-mile-strip of land, wedged between mountains and sea. There are some thirty miles separating downtown Flamengo, from far-flung Recreio, bordered on one side by the blue sea, on the other by verdant hills. Between them lies a colourful state of mind called CARIOCA, with almost 8 million locals who samba their way through life, relaxed and high-spirited.

That is just the way it should be in Rio, surrounded by natural beauty on all sides, with Christ the Redeemer perched on top of Corcovado blessing the city and Sugar Loaf, one of the most famous postcards of our country.
Arrival in Rio and transfer to the hotel.

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Windsor Plaza Copacabana 3-4* or Similar (superior room) 

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Windsor Excelsior Copacabana 4* or Similar (superior room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast
• Full Day City Tour including Sugar Loaf & Corcovado (approx. 8 hours)

Leaving the hotel and proceeding as far as Cosme Velho Station to board a cog-train(*) for the ride through Tijuca Forest up Corcovado Mountain at 748m (2.454ft) high. The train ride takes 20 minutes and is a wonderful opportunity for a closer look at the forest’s lush tropical vegetation and to enjoy scenic landscapes of the beaches and city. Disembarking at the top of Corcovado and then proceeding up the steps that lead to the top lookout where the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer stands. After appreciating the breathtaking view unfolding below, passengers will descend by train. The tour proceeds, passing by Rio’s world-famous beaches as far as Urca District to board a cable car for a two-staged ascent up Sugar Loaf Mountain at 390m (1.280ft.) high. Then coming down and proceeding along Guanabara Bay and Flamengo Park as far as downtown. Visit downtown area, passing by the financial and business centre and by other attractions such as the Candelaria Church, Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Lapa Arches, Municipal Theatre, National Library, Fine Arts Museum, and by the Sambadrome, site of Rio’s famous Carnival parade.

**Remarks: (*) In the unusual case that the train does not operate, the drive will instead take place with vans certified by the city’s administration from/to the Largo do Machado parking.

Optional: Rio by night - Show

Visit a folklore and Carnival show featuring skilled dancers, entertainers, samba bands and wonderful costumes in a wonderful display of Brazilian folklore and Carnival.

(This excursion can be booked including dinner).

Middle Class: Overnight at Hotel Windsor Plaza Copacabana 3-4* or Similar (superior room)

Comfort Class: Overnight at Hotel Windsor Excelsior Copacabana 4* or Similar (superior room)

• Meals: Buffet breakfast
• Transfer hotel – airport

From the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight back home.